LACROSSE STICK, TRAINING DEVICE FOR A LACROSSE STICK

Abstract

A lacrosse stick has four discrete optically discernible colored zones at specified positions along the shaft of the lacrosse stick corresponding to preferred hand positions for different lacrosse stick maneuvers. Zone stops are disposed between the different colored zones and are formed from a material that provides a unique tactile feel as compared to the colored zones. A coach can issue training instructions consisting of two colors corresponding to the colors of the zones to identify preferred hand positions for a lacrosse training exercise.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 61/413,071, filed on Nov. 12, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates lacrosse sticks, to a training device for lacrosse and to a training method.

2. Description of the Related Art

The game of lacrosse has had a presence in North America for hundreds of years. First invented by Native Americans, the game became popular in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in the 20^th century. More recently, lacrosse has begun to spread across the country. The game has become more widespread on college and high school campuses, which has in turn led to an increase in youth leagues and instructional camps. In the past, the relatively small lacrosse community meant a low player to instructor ratio and frequent one-on-one training. However, the sudden rise in popularity of the sport, combined with the absence of lucrative professional contracts has led to an increase in players without a corresponding increase in instructors.

A typical game of lacrosse is played between two teams, each with ten players on the field. A team has one goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders, and three attackers. The equipment used for lacrosse consists of a stick, a hard rubber ball, and a variety of protective gear including helmets, gloves, and shoulder pads. The lacrosse stick consists of a shaft with a basket-like attachment secured at one end of the shaft. In men's lacrosse, the length of the shaft is typically determined by the position one plays. A defenseman's lacrosse stick is generally between fifty-two and seventy-two inches long. By contrast, an attacker's stick is usually between forty and forty-two inches long. The defenseman's stick is useful for corralling opposing players, “poking” the ball away, and blocking shots while the attackman's stick is easier to control and lends itself to maintaining possession of the ball and taking hard, accurate shots on goal. In women's lacrosse, regulations require the stick to be between 35.5″ and 43.25″ long. Regardless of the length of a particular lacrosse stick or the position a player occupies, all players must be familiar with several standard lacrosse actions including but not limited to: shooting, passing, cradling, and checking.

Lacrosse is a fast paced game, which makes training and coaching players difficult. Particularly, it is difficult to teach the proper mechanics for the standard lacrosse actions. One of the more important aspects of mastering the standard lacrosse actions is proper hand placement on the shaft. For instance, a player may have his hands close together near the bottom of the shaft to maximize torque and velocity while shooting the ball at the goal. Alternatively, it may be preferable to have the hands spaced apart when passing the ball to ensure accuracy. Improper hand placement will lead to errant shots and passes. Additionally, some lacrosse rules require specific hand placement. For instance, a player will receive a penalty if he cross checks an opponent with his hands spaced apart. Each of these maneuvers are difficult to learn and the preferred method of performing the maneuvers is often counterintuitive.

The rapid increase in participation and the relative lack of instructors has made it more difficult to ensure each player has proper hand placement during such lacrosse maneuvers as shooting, passing, catching, cradling, checking, and picking up groundballs. Thus, it is necessary to have a training device that allows coaches to visually check hand placement, to convey instructions verbally for proper hand placement, and for players to self-correct improper techniques.

In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide a training device to assist in teaching proper hand-positioning on a lacrosse stick.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a training device that is removably attachable from a lacrosse stick.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a training device with tactile indicia to aid in hand-positioning on a lacrosse stick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lacrosse stick with an elongate shaft having opposite top and bottom ends. The shaft may be formed from a hollow tube that has a substantially uniform cross-section over the entire length of the shaft. A threaded opening may be formed at the top end of the shaft and preferably is aligned along the axis of the shaft. A basket-like head may be attached threadedly to the threaded opening in the top end of the shaft.

The shaft has an array of discrete zones that are arranged consecutively from a position at or near the bottom end of the shaft to a position at or near the top end of the shaft. The zones can be distinguished from one another by clearly discernable optical and/or tactile stimuli. For example, the zones may be distinguished optically from one another by providing different colors for adjacent zones and preferably different colors for each zone. Additionally or alternatively, the zones may be distinguished optically from one another by optically distinguishable designs, letters, numbers or the like.

The lacrosse stick shaft also preferably comprises means for providing tactile identification of the demarcations between the respective zones. The means for providing tactile identification preferably comprises zone stops disposed at the demarcations between the respective zones. The zone stops may define regions of the shaft that are cross-sectionally larger or smaller than other regions. Alternatively, the zone stops may define regions with a different surface texture or feel than other regions. The zone stops preferably have a significantly shorter axial length than any of the zones. In alternate embodiments, the means for providing tactile identification may comprise different surface textures for the respective zones.

In the preferred embodiment, the lacrosse stick shaft has four discrete zones separated by three zone stops. For purposes of this specification, the respective zones will be referred to as a bottom zone adjacent the bottom end of the shaft, a lower intermediate zone adjacent the bottom zone, an upper intermediate zone adjacent the lower intermediate zone and a top zone adjacent the top end of the shaft. The bottom and lower intermediate zone are separated by a bottom zone stop. The lower and upper intermediate zones are separated by an intermediate zone stop. The upper intermediate zone and the top zone are separated from one another by a top zone stop. In actual practice, the respective zones are likely to be referred to by their colors, such as black, red, white and gray. Of course, other colors can be provided. However, the color selection preferably is carried out to provide a clear visual demarcation between the zones. Thus, a black zone can be adjacent to a red zone, but preferably is not be adjacent a gray zone. Thus, each zone only is adjacent to zones that are noticeably darker or lighter.

The relative dimensions of each zone along the length of the shaft may be dependent upon the skill level and the gender of the lacrosse player. In this regard, the dimension of lacrosse sticks for girls at the high school level is different than the dimension of lacrosse sticks for high school boys. The axial length of the upper intermediate zone typically will be longer than the axial lengths of the other zones for lacrosse sticks intended for either boys or girls. Additionally, the axial length of the upper intermediate zone on a lacrosse stick for girls is comparatively longer than the axial length of the upper intermediate zone for a lacrosse stick intended for boys.

The lacrosse stick of the invention may be provided permanently with an array of discrete zones that can be distinguished from one another by clearly discernable optical and/or tactile stimuli. However, these additions to the standard lacrosse stick may be unwanted, impractical or impermissible for use in a regulation game. Many lacrosse players will not want to have separate sticks for training and for games. As a result, the invention also relates to a training device that can be mounted removably or repositionably on a conventional lacrosse stick. Thus, the training device can be applied for use during training and practice sections, removed for games and then reapplied after a game for subsequent practice and training sessions.

The training device of the invention preferably comprises a thin sheet of flexible material, such as a polyester fabric, having opposite first and second surfaces. A removable or repositionable adhesive preferably is applied to the first surface so that the sheet can be applied removably to the shaft of the lacrosse stick. The adhesive is selected so that no adhesive residue will remain on the lacrosse stick shaft when the sheet is removed. The second surface of the sheet preferably has optically discrete zones printed or otherwise provided thereon so that the respective zones are visually distinguishable from one another. The indicia printed or otherwise provided on the sheet material may include markings to indicate top and bottom ends of the sheet to ensure that the sheet material is mounted onto the lacrosse stick shaft in the proper orientation. The sheet material preferably is substantially rectangular with opposite top and bottom end edges spaced apart by a specified length and opposite side edges extending between the end edges and spaced apart by a specified width. The boundaries between the zones imprinted on the second surface preferably extend substantially parallel to the top and bottom end edges and extend continuously between the opposite side edges. The rectangular sheet preferably has a length substantially equal to the length of the lacrosse stick shaft and a width substantially equal to the circumference of the lacrosse stick shaft. Thus, the sheet material can be secured around the lacrosse stick shaft and removed or repositioned. The side edges of the sheet preferably are in abutting edge to edge relationship when the sheet is on the shaft

The training device also preferably is comprised of a plurality of zone stops. Each zone stop may be affixed permanently or removably to the second surface of the sheet material before or after the sheet material is attached to the lacrosse stick shaft. For example, each zone stop may be a short strip of adhesive-backed looped fabric, such as the looped fabric half of a hook and loop fabric fastening system. Each adhesive-backed looped fabric strip has a length sufficient to wrap around the lacrosse stick shaft and a width sufficient for easy tactile detection by a lacrosse player. For example, each adhesive-backed zone stop may have a width of approximately 0.5-1.0 inch.

The components of the training device may be packaged and sold as a kit that includes at least one adhesive backed sheet and a sufficient number of zone stops (e.g. three). A release liner may be attached removably to the adhesive on the first surface of the sheet material. The training device assembly may be applied to the lacrosse shaft by placing the sheet on a substantially flat substrate with the first surface of the sheet facing up and with due consideration for the orientation of the designated top and bottom edges of the sheet. The release liner then may be removed to expose the adhesive. The lacrosse stick shaft then is placed on the adhesive with the top end of the shaft approximately at the top edge of the sheet, the bottom edge of the shaft approximately at the bottom edge of the sheet and the axis of the shaft aligned substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet. The sheet then merely is wrapped around the shaft and is secured in position by the adhesive with the opposite side edges of the sheet being in substantially in edge to edge contact. An error in the application of the sheet is not problematic due to the removable and repositionable characteristics of the adhesive. The user then attaches the zone stops to the second or outer surface of the sheet to wrap around the lacrosse stick shaft at the boundaries between the respective zones. The opposite end edge of the zone stops preferably are in edge to edge relationship at positions substantially registered with the abutting side edges of the sheet.

The properly mounted training device provides clearly discernable areas of visual and tactile stimuli to distinguish areas of the shaft that are intended to have different functions. A coach can use the training device during practice sessions or drills by providing verbal cues or instructions for proper hand placement. Typically, the zones will have different colors and the verbal cues or instructions will be provided by identifying the color combinations that should be used for different situations, as explained further herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a lacrosse stick in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of a sheet of material of the lacrosse training device prior to mounting on the lacrosse stick.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the sheet of material shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a zone stop of the training device.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the zone stop.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a kit with the sheet and three zone stops.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A lacrosse stick in accordance with the invention is identified generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-3. The lacrosse stick 10 has an elongate shaft 12 with opposite top and bottom ends 14 and 16. A basket-like head 18 is attached to the top end 14 of the shaft 12. The shaft 12 has four visually discrete and recognizable zones 20, 22, 24 and 26. More particularly, a bottom zone 20 is substantially adjacent the bottom end 16 of the shaft 12, a lower intermediate zone 22 is adjacent the bottom zone 20, an upper intermediate zone 24 is adjacent the lower intermediate zone 22 and a top zone 26 is between the upper intermediate zone 24 and the top end 14 of the shaft 12. In this embodiment, the zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 are rendered visually distinct by different colors. More particularly, the bottom zone 20 is red, the lower intermediate zone 22 is black, the upper intermediate zone 24 is white and the top zone 26 is grey. Of course other colors are possible, but the adjacent colors should alternate between dark and light to enhance visual distinction between the respective zones 20, 22, 24, 26.

Zone stops 21, 23 and 25 are provided between adjacent zones 20, 22, 24 and 25. The zone stops 21, 23 and 25 of this embodiment project farther out than the respective zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 to provide a distinct tactile indication of the demarcations between the respective zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 that can be detected by the hands of a lacrosse player. Thus, the zone stops 21, 23 and 25 provide a tactile stimulus that allows a player to differentiate between the zones 20, 22, 24, 26 without requiring the player to look at the shaft 12 to determine proper hand placement.

The lengths of the respective zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 may vary in accordance with the skill level and gender of the player. For example, a boy's stick 10 will have a bottom zone 20 with a length of about 6.25 inches, a lower intermediate zone 22 with a length of about 6.25 inches, an upper intermediate zone 24 with a length of about 6.75 inches and a top zone 26 with a length of about 6.00 inches. A girl's stick 10 will have the bottom zone 20 with a length of about 5.25 inches, a lower intermediate zone 22 with a length of about 6.00 inches, an upper intermediate zone 24 with a length of about 7.50 inches and a top zone 26 with a length of about 5.00 inches. Each zone stop 21, 23, 25 will have an axial dimension of about 0.50-1.00 inch.

The zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 and the zone stops 21, 23 and 25 may be permanent parts of the lacrosse stick 10. However, the zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 and the zone stops 21, 23 and 25 may be part of a training device 40 that is removably attached to the lacrosse stick 10. More particularly, the training device 40 comprises a flexible rectangular sheet 42 formed from a flexible material, such as a polyester fabric, with opposite first and second surfaces 44 and 46, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet 42 has a thickness of about 0.01 mil. The sheet 42 has opposite top and bottom edges 48 and 50 and opposite side edges 52 and 54. The top and bottom edges 48 and 50 are spaced from one another by a length substantially equal to the length of the shaft 12. The side edges 52 and 54 are spaced from one another by a width substantially equal to the circumference of the shaft 12. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet 42 will have a length of about 27 inches and a width of about 3.5 inches. The first surface 44 of the sheet preferably has a removable and repositionable adhesive 56 and a release liner 58 on the adhesive 56, as shown in FIG. 4. The adhesive backed polyester fabric sheet 42 may be the sheet material sold under the trademark PHOTO TEX. Areas of the release liner 58 and/or the first surface 44 preferably are printed with indicia to identify the top and bottom edges 48 and 50.

The second surface 46 of the sheet 42 is printed or otherwise provided with the zones 20, 22, 24 and 26, as shown in FIG. 5. Demarcations between the zones 20, 22, 24 and 26 are substantially linear and parallel to the top and bottom edges 48 and 50.

The training device 40 also includes three zone stops 21, 23, 25, each of which preferably is a strip of looped fabric with a permanent or releasable adhesive on the back face, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The looped fabric may be the type sold under the trademark VELCRO. Each zone stop strip 21, 23, 25 has a length L substantially to the circumference of the shaft 12 and a width W of about 0.50-1.00 inch.

The training device 40 may be packaged and sold as a kit 60, as shown in FIG. 8. The kit 60 includes at least one adhesive backed sheet 42 and a sufficient number of zone stops 21, 23, 25. The training device 40 may be applied to the shaft 12 of the lacrosse shaft 10 by placing the sheet 42 on a substantially flat substrate with the first surface 44 of the sheet 42 facing up and with due consideration for the orientation of the designated top and bottom edges 48 and 50 of the sheet 42. The release liner 58 then may be removed to expose the adhesive 56. The shaft 12 of the lacrosse stick 10 then is placed on the adhesive 10 with the top end 14 of the shaft 12 approximately at the top edge 48 of the sheet 42, the bottom end 16 of the shaft 12 approximately at the bottom edge 50 of the sheet 42 and the axis of the shaft 12 aligned substantially parallel to the side edges 52, 54 of the sheet 42. The sheet 42 then merely is wrapped around the shaft 12 and is secured in position by the adhesive 56 with the opposite side edges 52, 54 of the sheet 42 being in substantially in edge to edge contact. The user then attaches the zone stops 21, 23, 25 to the second or outer surface 16 of the sheet 42 to wrap the zone stops 21, 23, 25 around the shaft 12 of the lacrosse stick 10 at the boundaries between the respective zones 20, 22, 24 26. The opposite end edges of the zone stops 21, 23, 25 preferably are in edge to edge relationship at positions substantially registered with the abutting side edges 52, 54 of the sheet 42.

The properly mounted training device 40 provides clearly discernible areas of visual and tactile stimuli that distinguish areas of the shaft 12 that are intended to have different functions. A coach can use the training device 40 during practice sessions or drills by providing verbal cues or instructions for proper hand placement. As explained above, the preferred embodiment has zones 20, 22, 24, 26 of different colors and the verbal cues or instructions are provided by identifying the color combinations that should be used for different situations. For example, in the preferred embodiment where the bottom zone 20 is red, the lower intermediate zone 22 is black, the upper intermediate zone 24 is white and the top zone 26 is grey, an instruction for catching will be “black white”. These hand positions will enable the player to keep catches under control. An instruction for passing also will be “black white” for quick accurate passing. However, an instruction for scooping a ground ball will be “black grey” to enable a player to scoop a ball efficiently from the ground. An instruction for cradling also will be “black grey” to enable a player to maneuver around opponents with complete control of the ball. The instruction for a time zone shot will be “black red” to achieve maximum shot speed. An instruction for an inside shot will be “bottom zone stop white” so that the player positions the lower hand at the zone stop 21 between the black and red zones 20, 22 and positions the upper hand at the white zone for a short quick release shot. It will be appreciated that the invention combines the visual and tactile stimuli of the stick with the audible stimuli of the coach.

To remove the training device 40, a user pulls either edge 52 or 54 away from the shaft 1. The training device 40 separates from the shaft 12 without leaving an adhesive residue. Thus, a player can use the lacrosse stick 10 without the training device 40 during a lacrosse game and easily reattach the training device 40 for a practice.

Claims

1. A lacrosse stick having a shaft with opposite top and bottom ends and a plurality of discrete optically discernible zones at different positions along the shaft between the top and bottom ends.

2. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, further comprising zone stops at demarcations between the zones, the zone stops providing a tactile feel that is different than a tactile feel provided by the zones.

3. The lacrosse stick of claim 2, wherein each zone has a specified color, the color of each zone being different from the color of each other zone.

4. The lacrosse stick of claim 3, wherein the colors of the zones alternate between dark and light colors along the shaft so that at least one of the zones defines a light-colored zone adjacent to two dark colored zones having two different dark colors.

5. The lacrosse stick of claim 3, wherein the plurality of discrete optically discernible zones consists of four zones.

6. The lacrosse stick of claim 3, wherein the zones are printed on a sheet of material removably adhered to the shaft, the sheet of material having opposite side edges disposed substantially in edge-to-edge relationship on the shaft, the zone stops defining strips of fabric adhered to the sheet of material, each of said strips of fabric having opposite ends secured in end-to-end relationship at positions registered with the edges of the sheet so that the sheet and the zone stops can be removed simultaneously from the shaft and reapplied to the shaft.

7. A lacrosse training assembly for use with a lacrosse stick with a shaft having a specified length and a specified circumference, the training assembly comprising a sheet of flexible material having opposite first and second surfaces, opposite top and bottom edges spaced from one another by a distance substantially corresponding to the specified length of the shaft and opposite side edges spaced from one another by a distance substantially corresponding to the specified circumference of the shaft, the first surface of the sheet material having an adhesive thereon, the second surface of the sheet being printed to define a plurality of discrete optically discernible zones at different respective positions between the top and bottom edges of the sheet, wherein the first surface of the sheet is adhesively attachable to the shaft of the lacrosse stick so that the second surface of the sheet provides the discrete optically discernible zones along the length of the shaft.

8. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 7, wherein demarcations are defined between the respective zones, the demarcations being aligned substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the sheet.

9. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 7, further comprising a release liner removably attached to the adhesive.

10. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 9, wherein the adhesive is a removable and repositionable adhesive.

11. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 7, wherein the sheet of flexible material is a polyester fabric.

12. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of zone stops, each of the zone stops having a first surface with an adhesive thereon, a second surface opposite the first surface and being configured to provide a tactile feel different than the second surface of the sheet, each of the zone stops having a length substantially equal to the circumference of the shaft.

13. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of zone stops defines a number that is one less than the plurality of zones.

14. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the zones has a length measured perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the sheet, the zone adjacent the top edge of the sheet defines a top zone that has a length that is less than the lengths of the other respective zones.

15. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 14, wherein the plurality of zones includes an upper intermediate zone adjacent the top zone, the upper intermediate zone having a length greater than the lengths of the other respective zones.

16. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 12, wherein the zones are different respective colors arranged in an alternating dark color-light color pattern extending from the bottom edge to the top edge.

17. The lacrosse training assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of zones consists of four zones.

18. A lacrosse training method comprising:

providing a lacrosse stick having a shaft with opposite top and bottom ends;

removably attaching a sheet of material around the shaft, the sheet of material having four differently colored zones at specified positions between the top and bottom ends of the shaft;

issuing instructions identifying two of the colored zones corresponding to hand placements for a selected lacrosse training exercise.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising attaching zone stops to the sheet at positions corresponding to demarcations between the differently colored zones, the zone stops providing a different tactile feel than the zones.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of removably attaching the sheet of material around the shaft comprises having opposite side edges of the sheet disposed in substantially edge-to-edge relationship, and wherein the step of attaching the zone stops comprises having opposite ends of each of the zone stops disposed in substantially edge-to-edge relationship and substantially registered with the edges of the sheet so that the sheet and the stops can be removed simultaneously from the shaft.